xpect it
will be very gay and pleasant there. How I wish you were to be of the
party, instead of moping here!" said Mrs. Ormonde.

"Thank you. I should like it all, no doubt, but not just now. I will
keep you informed of our small doings."

So Mrs. Ormonde steamed on her way rejoicing, and Katherine re-entered a
pretty low pony-carriage in which she drove a pair of quiet, well-broken
ponies, selected for her by Bertie Payne, whose conversion had not
obliterated his carnal knowledge of horseflesh. A small groom always
accompanied her, for though improved by the practice of driving, she did
not like to be alone with her steeds.

She had nearly reached the chief street of Sandbourne, when a tall
gentleman in yachting dress strolled slowly round the corner of a lane
which led to the beach. He paused and raised his hat. She recognized De
Burgh and drew up.

"And so you are driving in capital style," was his greeting; "all by
yourself, too. Will you give me a lift back?"

"Certainly. Where have you come from?"

"Melford's yacht. I escorted my revered relative, old De Burgh, down to
Cowes. He has a little villa there. As he has grown quite civil of late,
I think it right to encourage him. Melford was there, and invited me to
take a short cruise. So I made him land me here just now. The yacht is
still in the offing. Lady Alice was on board."

"Indeed!" exclaimed Katherine, with much interest. "How is she?"

"So far as one can judge from the exterior, remarkably well, and exactly
the same as ever. It is rather funny, but they had Renshaw on board too,
the son of the big brewer who has bought, or is going to buy,
Errington's house in Berkeley Square. I fancy it is not impossible he
may come in for Errington's ex-_fiancee_ as well as his ex-residence."

"It cannot be, surely!" cried Katherine, flushing with a curious
feeling.

"Why not? I don't say immediately. I have no doubt everything will be
done decently and in order."

"Well, it is incomprehensible."

"Not to me. What can--(Make that little brute on the off side keep up to
the collar. You want a few lessons from me still.) What can a girl like
Lady Alice do? She is an earl's daughter. She cannot dig; to beg she is
ashamed; she must therefore take to herself a husband from the mammon of
unaristocratic money-grubbers."

"I should like to meet her again--poor Lady Alice!" said Katherine, more
to herself than to her companion.

"I think you are wasting your com